Arizona State Defense Shows Improvement in Turnover Battle During Camp Tontozona Scrimmage
The Arizona State Sun Devils’ defense made a statement during their abbreviated scrimmage at Camp Tontozona on Saturday, forcing four turnovers in just 10 drives. While turnovers might typically raise concerns for the offense, it’s a significant positive sign for the defense as they aim to address one of their biggest weaknesses from last season.
The Sun Devils’ defense held its own in 2023 despite the team’s struggles, particularly in a 15-7 upset win over national runner-up Washington, where they didn’t allow a single offensive touchdown. However, creating takeaways was a major issue. Arizona State ranked near the bottom of the FBS in turnover margin, coming in at 127th out of 130 teams. The Sun Devils managed just nine takeaways all season, with four coming in the Washington game alone.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham has made turnover margin a primary focus since spring practices, and it appears his emphasis is starting to pay off. “We’ve been preaching takeaways on defense,” Dillingham said. “Four of the first 10 drives with the ones and twos, we created a takeaway. Even though the offense had some success, you turn the ball over four times in the first 10 drives, good luck in a real game. Kudos to the defense.”
ASU’s struggles in turnover margin last year were glaring. The Sun Devils didn’t recover a fumble until the fourth game of the season against USC, becoming the last FBS team to do so. Senior safety Shamari Simmons led the team with just one interception and two fumble recoveries, while no other player had more than one takeaway.
This season, Dillingham has implemented specific drills designed to increase turnover opportunities, focusing on tipping passes and forcing fumbles. He also believes the improvement is tied to personnel changes that better fit the team’s strategy.
“If that shows up during the season, well, teams that don’t turn it over and have a good turnover margin are tough to beat,” Dillingham added. “That’s what I like about it. It’s back and forth. Last year, we didn’t have many moments like this.”
As the Sun Devils prepare for the upcoming season, their ability to create takeaways could be the key to reversing their fortunes. If the defense can continue to build on this momentum, ASU could become a much more competitive team in 2024.
